Calgary soccer team withdraws from B.C. tourney after Sikh player barred

LANGLEY, B.C. (CP) - Parents and coaches of a Calgary junior soccer team are angry after a Sikh player was barred from a game for insisting on wearing his religious headscarf.

Northwest United was competing in a tournament in this Vancouver suburb when a referee told 17-year-old Gurindar Durah could not wear his patka, a scarf young, religiously observant Sikhs are required to wear.

Durah swore at the referee and was ejected from the game. Then his team decided to walk off in protest.

“Our tournament is done,” Northwest United coach Mario Moretti said. “It was done the second he (the referee) said that. This is a decision our players made, not me.

“I supported my players. They all supported Gurindar, which was a no-brainer for us.”

A tournament organizer said the teen was kicked out for swearing and the decision on appropriate clothing was up to the referee.

“I am told by the referees here that this is a FIFA rule,” said Michael Smith, referring to soccer’s international governing body.

“They had a meeting here during the week and the there’s no jewellery and no clothing outside of what is necessary for the game of soccer is allowed.”

But Moretti said he discovered the federation has no such rule.

“I’ve been out to soccer for the last 10 or 12 years,” said Gurindar’s father, Gurmit Durah. “This is the first time my son was told he can’t play, not because of his capabilities but because of what he was wearing.”